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fairly (adv.)

c. 1400, "handsomely," from fair (adj.) + -ly (2). Meaning "impartially, justly" is from 1670s. Sense of "somewhat" is from 1805, a curious contrast to the earlier, but still active, sense of "totally" (1590s). Old English had fægerlice "splendidly."

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Definitions of fairly from WordNet

fairly (adv.)
to certain extent or degree;
he is fairly clever with computers
Synonyms: reasonably / moderately / pretty / jolly / somewhat / middling / passably
fairly (adv.)
without favoring one party, in a fair evenhanded manner;
deal fairly with one another
Synonyms: fair / evenhandedly
fairly (adv.)
in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
they played fairly
Synonyms: fair / clean
From wordnet.princeton.edu